It was cloudy for a long time.
Every morning Joel thought surely it’ll be sunny today.
Nope.
All cloudy.
It had been cloudy so long people started asking "When will we see the sun again?".
In life it gets cloudy in our lives/relationships.
Dark clouds for a man who struggled with an addiction.
We can think it’s always going to be that way.One morning in Joel’s office suddenly the clouds opened up and the sun came shining down.
It was so beautiful it looked like a postcard.
It was a welcome sight.
Joel felt his spirits lifting.
The clouds dissipated and Joel heard in his spirit “Unexpected Sunshine”.
God has some unexpected sunshine for you.
Medical reports may say you’ll never get well.
But unexpected sunshine is coming your way.
Maybe you think you’ve reached your limits but one touch of God’s favor can thrust you ahead.
Those clouds don’t stop our God – He controls those clouds.
The clouds are only temporary.

We can be blessed in many areas: health, family, job-
But have one thing/temptation in our lives.
One nagging health issue...
Outside we may seem fine but it’s nagging on the inside.

A Lakewood Prayer partner longs for a child and prays for others.
They bring their children back to show her, but her prayer goes unanswered.
Life is full of contradictions.
You’re helping others get well but you don’t get well.
If we’re honest we all have secret frustrations.
We know God could do it.
But it’s not happening.
We have to realize God is a sovereign God.
We won’t understand why everything happens.
We have to trust that God knows what’s best for us.
Keep the right attitude and it’ll work for you - not against you.

Text: Matthew 17:1-5The TransfigurationAfter six days Jesus took with him Peter,
James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by
themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like
the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then
there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.4
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I
will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for
Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them,
and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I
am well pleased. Listen to him!”

We get to see a private moment with Jesus.
In His inner circle.
Three guys.
You can’t take masses of people with you.
You can minister to 5000 but you can’t take 5000 with you.
There are many associated with you that can’t go up with you.
Jesus could heal masses but only took three men with Him.
You have to be selective about who you take with you when God takes you up.
The circle must get smaller or you won’t survive.
If you invert the pyramid you will fall down.
Peter, James, & John.
His boys.
The mountain of transfiguration is Mount Hermon in the Old Testament.
How good and pleasant…
The place where God commands blessings.
It’s a mile high in the air.
It's colder at the top.
At the bottom of the mountain they were in one climate but when they got to the top they were in another climate.

You can’t take flaky people into changing situations.
You have to be careful who you take with you all the way to the top.
Peter, James, and John have a track record with Jesus.
Why do people try to take people into intimate places who haven’t earned that right?
If you value yourself and your journey you won’t take just anybody with you.
I know they call you arrogant but you’re just careful.
You’ve been thru too much to make the same mistakes.
I’m not crazy – I’m careful.
They’d faced some storms with Jesus.
I like to go with people who will hang with you in tough times and places.
Everybody wants to ride around in luxury, but I need someone who will be there on the rocks, on the bus.
Jesus said if you suffer with me you can reign with me.
Alone with Jesus on the mountain top? Who wouldn’t want to go?
But are they ready to see it?
This is the place of change, transfiguring, metamorphosis.
Where you see things from a different perspective.
Eyes but cannot see…
God will take you places where you see on a whole different level.
You have to be prepared to deal with something called loneliness.
It becomes a lonely process.